Author's notes: Hey everyone! From this chapter onwards, I will mostly cover Flay's experience and her interactions with other Coordinators during her time undergoing military training to become a full-fledged ZAFT soldier. I'm aware that this and future chapters will be a bit more like a slow burn to all of you. But I feel it is necessary to cover this since the anime counterpart did not show Flay's interaction with other ZAFT soldiers during her captivity on the Vesalius. Once Flay finishes her ZAFT military training, she would be sent to fight against Kira Jesus Yamato and the Archangel at the Battle of Orbit.
Phase 9: Enlisted
Call up assembly area, Parade Square, Citadel Military Base, City of Aprilius One, PLANTs, 9 February CE 71, 1000 hrs
2 days later…
Flay hurries quickly to Citadel's military base with a suitcase and a ZAFT issued military duffel bag in tow. She has to reach the call up assembly area on time since it was her first day of enlistment. Luckily, she reaches the military base in time before its gates close shut. 'Whew, thank god I made it on time.' Flay thought as she saw some ZAFT soldiers locking up the gate. Then she joins the queue where ZAFT recruits were queuing up to register for their enlistment process.
Unlike those ZAFT soldiers, these new recruits don't wear the usual Green ZAFT Outer Uniform. Instead, male recruits wear a light green recruit uniform while female recruits wear the orange recruit uniform. While Flay was waiting for her turn to register, she thought of the negative reactions from ZAFT Coordinators once they found out that she was a Natural. However, she knew she had to bear with them if they used Anti-Natural slurs at her. Also, she has to prove to Ezalia that she can change their perception of Naturals upon finishing her training.
Since Flay had agreed with Ezalia to change the perception of ZAFT Coordinators, it's too late for her to back out now. She had signed the enlistment form two days ago, and she's no longer a civilian. Now Flay herself has to undergo ZAFT military training, and she has to adjust herself to her new military life together with Coordinators. 'Alright Flay, today's your first day in ZAFT forces. Do give the best impression to them.' Flay reminds herself. Soon it was her turn to register, and Flay stepped forward as instructed.
"Please show me your ZAFT military identity card, miss." a Green ZAFT soldier requests Flay's identity card while sitting in the registration booth. Flay obliged his request and passed him her ZAFT military identity card. Upon receiving her card, he looked at the card and was astonished to see Flay's full name and she was a Natural. Believed that there was a mistake on the enlistment list, the Green ZAFT soldier quickly scans through the enlistment list to ensure that Flay wasn't on the list. However, he soon realized that there was no mistake on the enlistment list, as he saw Flay's full name appeared on it.
Immediately, the Green ZAFT soldier calls in his supervisor via a walkie talkie, as he sensed that something was really wrong when he found a Natural like Flay got enlisted. Within a minute, a lady wearing the elite Red ZAFT Uniform with a nametag named 2nd-Lieutenant Shiho Hahnenfuss appears as she approaches her subordinate. "Madam, we got a Natural trying to enlist herself as a recruit for the ZAFT forces." The Green ZAFT soldier informs Shiho as he passes Flay's identity card to her. As she looks at the identity card, Shiho's eyes widen in disbelief once she sees the word 'Natural' printed on it. Never in her life did she encounter a Natural joining ZAFT and undergo military training alongside Coordinators.
"Let her in, Petty Officer. I will handle her from here while you tick Miss Allster's name on the enlistment list and process the rest of the ZAFT recruits currently waiting." Shiho orders before taking Flay to a corner for discussion. Curious about how Flay being able to enlist herself, Shiho plans to discuss with her and find out her motives for joining ZAFT.
As they stand in a corner of the assembly area where no one can hear them, Shiho grills Flay with questions. "Sorry for bringing you here, Miss Allster. I have questions about you joining ZAFT." Shiho tells Flay while passing back her military identity card. "First, you are a Natural and why did you join ZAFT?" The first question imposed by Shiho makes Flay feel very reluctant to answer. But to gain trust among ZAFT Coordinators, Flay has to come up with reasons that convince them she is an ally and fighting alongside for the same cause.
"Second Lieutenant, I joined ZAFT based on my convictions." Flay begins. "After seeing how Blue Cosmos spread hateful Anti-Coordinator ideology among the Naturals living on Earth, I felt the need to help combat their racism. Also, Blue Cosmos sympathizers long sought to destroy the PLANTs, so I signed up to join ZAFT to defend Coordinators and their homeland. Once Blue Cosmos dissolves and the war is over, I want to change Naturals' negative perception of Coordinators." Flay's reasoning leaves Shiho dumbstruck as this is the first time she hears a Natural willing to do more apart from joining ZAFT.
"I'm curious, Miss Allster. Who allows you to join ZAFT?" Shiho asks as it is impossible for Naturals to join the Coordinators' armed forces. There's only two ways that Naturals can join ZAFT, either they secretly infiltrate as a Blue Cosmos spy or they receive approval from the PLANT's Supreme Council. "The Supreme Council granted me an approval to join, Second Lieutenant. In fact, Councilwoman Ezalia Joule even gave me a letter to address any high-ranking officials as proof that I will undergo military training in this military base." Flay takes out a letter from the suitcase and then passes it to Shiho. As Shiho examines the letter's contents, she lets out a relief once she sees the approval of the Supreme Council in letting Flay to enlist in ZAFT.
"So, the Supreme Council is generous enough to let you join. Am I right, Miss Allster?" Shiho confirms while eyeing Flay like a hawk. "That's correct, Second Lieutenant. I'm ready to protect the PLANT and its colonies by becoming a soldier and pilot for the ZAFT forces." Flay replies with confidence. Though Shiho can tell that Flay's determination to fight alongside with Coordinators under ZAFT forces, she fears for the red-haired Natural's safety. Shiho recalls during her first training days, she witnessed fellow Coordinator recruits wanting to exterminate every single Natural upon invading Earth. "Can't wait to kill every single Natural I encounter when we invade Earth." A fellow Coordinator recruit tells Shiho during the first week of the military training.
Not wanting to see any Coordinator recruits inflicting violence against Flay, Shiho advises her on what she needs to do to survive the entire military training without issue. "Miss Allster, I want you to listen closely. From now on, you are no longer a civilian, so you need to adjust yourself accordingly." Shiho pauses before continuing. "Second, you are the one and only Natural to join ZAFT, so expect some rough treatment from fellow Coordinators. If you want to earn respect from them, show them you are more capable than ordinary Naturals. Third, all of ZAFT's military training standards are for Coordinators so don't expect the instructors to go easy on you. The only way you can overcome these tough training sessions is to tell yourself not to give up. Follow these three pieces of advice and you can accomplish your military training." .
"Got it and thank you, Second Lieutenant." Flay accepts Shiho's advice in gratitude. "Good. I want you to keep the letter and not lose it at all costs. If the drill instructors or any high-ranking officers ask why you are here, show them the letter." Shiho passes back the letter to Flay. "Now, please follow me to the Auditorium for an oath-taking session before you head for lunch with fellow Coordinator recruits." Flay nods before following Shiho to the auditorium.
Auditorium Room 2, Block 2, Citadel Military Base, City of Aprilius One, PLANTs, 9 February CE 71, 1150 hrs
After taking the oath, a ZAFT instructor summoned Flay to meet him first before lunch. "Recruit Allster, I'm Chief Petty Officer Nereus Eros. I'm being told by Second Lieutenant Hahnenfuss that you join ZAFT based on your convictions and the Supreme Council allows you to join our armed forces, isn't it?" Nereus asks Flay. "That's correct, sir." Flay replies. However, the word 'Sir' angers Nereus, as he is not a ZAFT officer. "Do not call me sir, Recruit Allster!" Nereus yells. "Sirs are only for Officers! I'm a Chief Petty Officer for ZAFT, so you have to address me as Warrant Officer Eros!"
"I'm so sorry, Warrant Officer Eros." Flay apologies to Nereus with her eyes looking on the ground. "Good. So, do you have the document with you stating the Supreme Council's approval of you joining ZAFT?" Nereus requests. Flay nods and passes the letter to him. The young ZAFT instructor opens up to read the contents and is amazed to see that the Supreme Council is letting her enlist despite being a Natural. "Thank you for the letter, Recruit Allster. You can have it back and keep it with you at all costs." Nereus puts back the letter into the envelope before passing it back to Flay. "Though you may be the first Natural to join ZAFT, that doesn't mean me or my fellow instructors can go easy on you." .
"I'm aware of that, Warrant Officer. Even though ZAFT's military training may be more challenging for me since I'm a Natural, I would still accept the training sessions without complaint and do my best to overcome its challenges." Flay assures. "Well said, Recruit Allster!" Nereus says in a sarcastic tone. "Like it or not, you will undergo basic military training with fellow Coordinators for the next eight weeks before undergoing further training based on your assigned specialization. If you do well enough during the eight weeks of training sessions, I may consider putting you in the elite soldier program. Also, we will treat you as a Coordinator recruit throughout the entire training sessions, so I expect you not to slack behind. Do I make myself clear, Recruit?"
"Yes, Warrant Officer!" Flay replies with a firm voice as she fully understands Nereus's instructions. "Since you had enlisted in the ZAFT forces, you will receive a callsign name. Hence, your callsign name is 'Witch'." Nereus tells Flay her new callsign name, which makes her taken aback. "After lunch, an instructor will assign you to a designated squad, so do not select any squad of your own. Is that clear?" Despite resenting the new callsign name and not being given the freedom to select the squad she wants, Flay reluctantly accepts them to avoid any open conflict with him. "With nothing else left, you are free to go have your lunch. Dismissed." Nereus dismisses Flay.
Flay acknowledges and salutes Chief Petty Officer Eros before leaving the auditorium for her lunch.
Mess Hall, Citadel Military Base, City of Aprilius One, PLANTs, 9 February CE 71, 1210 hrs
After receiving the hot-cooked meal set from the counter, Flay takes the food tray containing her meal set while looking for a seat. Soon, she finds an empty seat and walks towards it to get seated before consuming her lunch. As she sits down and places her food tray on the table, she hears murmurs from Coordinator recruits sitting near her. She looks like the daughter of George Allster, doesn't she? She looks more like a Natural to me. How did a fake Coordinator like her be able to enlist in ZAFT? These are the murmurs that Flay overheard, which gives her an uneasy feeling.
Though Flay feels demoralized after hearing Anti-Natural gossip from nearby Coordinator recruits, she couldn't call them out for their bias towards Naturals. A single act of hostility against them could lead her to being marked and treated as an outcast. Not wanting to complicate her upcoming training sessions over minor issues, Flay accepts the Anti-Natural bias imposed on her and she vows to change her fellow Coordinator recruits' perception of her. Hence, she pays no attention to the murmurs and begins eating her meal. Although the meal she's eating does not taste as good as the one from Heliopolis Technical College's cafeteria, she has no problem eating it thanks to her days of eating the EA military's lunch set during her younger days.
Striker Company's Assembly Area, Block 4, Citadel Military Base, City of Aprilius One, PLANTs, 9 February CE 71, 1300 hrs
After lunch time…
All the ZAFT recruits assembled together in the company's assembly area as Chief Petty Officer Eros is about to make an announcement. "Good afternoon, Striker Company!" Nereus addresses the entire company of ZAFT recruits. All the ZAFT recruits of the Striker Company heard his address and replied with the following statement: "Good afternoon, Warrant Officer!" Soon, he orders Flay to come out from the crowd and stand beside him as he is about to announce something to the company. "Alright recruits, listen up! Today, a young Natural is joining all of you from today onwards to undergo military training to become full-time ZAFT soldiers. Her name is Flay Allster, and she is the first and only Natural so far to undergo ZAFT military training." .
Most of the ZAFT recruits were astounded to hear a Natural joining them since they only know Coordinators enlist in ZAFT. Worst, some of them know Flay's family background upon hearing the Allster name and suspect her to be a Blue Cosmos spy. With all the suspicious stares and audible gossip talking about her, Flay has a gut-wrenching feeling that she is not welcome here. "I know many of you wouldn't be happy to train alongside her, but the PLANT's Supreme Council allows her to undergo military training to become a full-fledged ZAFT soldier. Just because she is a Natural and the daughter of George Allster, doesn't mean you can unleash your racism or hatred on her. If anyone tries to harm Recruit Allster, he or she will face severe consequences!" Nereus heavily warns. "For the next eight weeks, she will do the same training sessions alongside all of you. Hence, I expect you to work with her and get along with her. Is that clear, Striker Company?"
The entire Striker company acknowledges Chief Petty Officer Eros' instructions in response. "As for Recruit Allster, she will join the 1st Squad of the 4th Platoon of the Striker Company from today onwards," Nereus announces before a ZAFT training instructor guides Flay to her assigned squad. After Chief Petty Officer Eros made his announcement, another ZAFT commander stood forward to make an announcement. "Good afternoon Striker Company, I'm Lieutenant-Commander Elias Managea and I would like to say a few words about your training sessions. Over the next eight weeks, you will learn what it takes to be a ZAFT soldier and defend the PLANTs from the EA forces. During these training sessions, we will monitor every soldier's progress and at the end of the eight weeks, we will assign you to your combat vocations based on your abilities and skills displayed during the entire eight weeks." Elias pauses before continuing.
"Also, recruits who show outstanding performance during the eight weeks' training sessions may get the chance to enter the elite soldiers' program. However, only the top 10% of the company's recruits can join this program. So if you want to become an elite soldier, we expect you to not only perform well but show us your willingness as well. Those selected will know the outcome from us by the middle of the 6th week. Is that clear?" Elias ends his announcement with an authoritarian tone. A roar of approval comes from the entire Striker Company after hearing Lieutenant-Commander Managea's announcement. "Very well then, your training will begin in 2 days' time. As for today, the instructors will issue further instructions later in your bunk rooms. They will brief all of you on what to do in the coming days. Other than that, all of you are free to head to your designated bunk rooms. Dismissed!" Elias dismisses the entire company.
All the ZAFT recruits disperse from the company's assembly area as they went up to their designated bunk rooms after being dismissed. As Flay carries her belongings and climbs up the stairs to her squad's bunk room, she hopes to get along with her fellow Coordinator squad mates and befriend them during these eight weeks of military training.
To be continued…
End of Phase 9
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